The tailbone is a collection of bones in the terminal part of the spine. It has a triangular shape, the upper part of which is directed downward. The tailbone consists of three to five small rudimentary vertebrae, interconnected through joints and ligaments.
The coccygeal bone has two main functions:
- distribution of physical activity;
- the attachment of muscles and ligaments involved in the functioning of the organs of the genitourinary system and parts of the large intestine, as well as the gluteal muscle.
Is it possible to break the tailbone? How to treat a fracture? What are the symptoms of a broken tailbone? What to do next? The answers to these questions and many others can be found in this article.
Tailbone injury
How to understand that the tailbone is broken? As a rule, a fracture of the coccygeal bone causes a lot of inconvenience due to its location in the lower back. In addition to the fact that a broken tailbone hurts, it is difficult for the victim to sit, stand and move. To diagnose a fracture, you must consult a specialist.
Injury to the tailbone can result in falls, bruises, dislocations and subluxations. Also, a fracture may occur due to severe childbirth, complicated by various factors. These include a clinically narrow pelvis or large fetus. Pressure from a child passing through the birth canal can cause swelling, dislocation, or coccyx fracture. Such injuries are quite rare.
Causes
What causes tailbone injuries? The causes of a fracture of the coccygeal bone are quite diverse. It can be falls, strokes, complicated delivery. In some cases, osteoporosis can be one of the factors contributing to a tailbone fracture. This is a disease in which a decrease in bone density is characteristic, which leads to their fragility. This type of tailbone injury is more susceptible to women due to the wide structure of the pelvis.
Most fractures are caused by a direct blow to this area, for example:
- Accident. When falling on a hard surface, in a sitting position (prompting on ice, ice skating, dancing, sports).
- Direct contact exposure in certain sports (riding a motorcycle, horse, bicycle).
- Restrictions or repeated friction on the tailbone. For example, this can happen while cycling or rowing.
- Large size of the fetus during delivery, the child is not in the correct position. During passage through the birth canal, the child may contribute to the occurrence of a tailbone fracture.
- Car accident.
- Various diseases of the skeletal system, for example, arthritis of the hip joint.
- Obesity.
- Infectious inflammation of the tissues around the tailbone.
Risk factors
The following conditions increase the risk of a tailbone fracture.
- Gender Injuries to the tailbone are mainly affected by women due to the wider pelvic area.
- Elderly age. Older people have more fragile bones.
- Osteoporosis.
- Poor nutrition. Especially inadequate levels of calcium and vitamin D.
- Some congenital malformations of bone.
- Hazardous sports such as ice skating, rock climbing.
- Decreased muscle mass in the buttocks.
Symptoms
The most common sign of a broken tailbone is pain. Such sensations can last quite a long time. Pain usually intensifies when moving, when a person sits down, stands up, or walks.
The main symptoms of a broken tailbone include:
- bruising or swelling on the tailbone or lower back;
- back pain or pressure in the pelvis (area of the hip joint);
- buttock pain that extends to the hips or legs;
- pain during bowel movements, during sex, when limbs are bent, and also during minimal load, for example, lifting objects;
- problems with movement.
In addition, the patient may complain of hypersensitivity in the place located directly above the buttocks, in the region of the lower part of the spine. There are nerve endings around the tailbone. When they are exposed, unpleasant pain can appear. Therefore, with injuries of the coccygeal bone, it is recommended to avoid playing sports or lifting weights. Also, when the tailbone is broken, women may experience pain during intercourse.
Diagnostics
The tailbone is a small bone in the shape of a triangle that forms the lower part of the spine. After any injury resulting from a fall or injury, it is recommended that you consult a doctor. The specialist will analyze the patient's complaints, the symptoms necessary for making a diagnosis. Clinical examination and questioning of the patient is sufficient in most cases.
During the examination, the specialist should check the entire spine for injuries. Also, a rectal examination of the patient may be necessary to verify the absence of displacement of the coccygeal bone.
For thorough visualization and confirmation of the diagnosis, an X-ray examination is often necessary. But with its help it is not always possible to determine the type of injury, for example, a fracture or dislocation.
In some cases, atypical symptoms may require magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Treatment
Due to the specific location of the coccyx during injuries, it is impossible to place it in a cast, as is usually done in case of a fracture of the arm or leg. However, to prevent displacement, bed rest must be observed. The most comfortable position for people with this type of injury is the “lying on their side” pose.
When the tailbone is broken, treatment is primarily aimed at relieving pain and reducing swelling. For this, the victim needs more rest and less movement. It is recommended to apply an ice pack to the affected area several times a day. In cases of displacement of fragments, doctors usually do not correct this defect. Due to the number of attached muscles to the tailbone and its specific location, it is difficult to immobilize and completely restrict movement.
How to treat a broken tailbone? Usually in such cases, the specialist prescribes anti-inflammatory drugs containing ibuprofen to relieve swelling and reduce pain. If unpleasant sensations do not decrease within a week, you may need stronger painkillers. During breastfeeding, make sure that the prescribed medications are safe and will not harm the newborn.
In order to facilitate sitting, the victim may need voluminous pillows. Such a device with a special hole does not create pressure on the coccyx. Some women use a special wedge-shaped roller.
When the tailbone is broken, the risk of constipation is increased. It is necessary to avoid this condition, since difficulty in defecation can bring pain. To improve digestion and soften stools, it is recommended that you drink enough fluids throughout the day and consume fiber-rich foods. If necessary, resort to the use of laxatives.
In general, the consolidation of a tailbone fracture is achieved in about a month. Even after the injury has healed, the area may remain painful for a long time. In process of recovery, the patient is prescribed physiotherapy, physiotherapy and massage.
Surgery
When the tailbone is broken, and the pain does not go away, the victim cannot move, coccygectomy can be recommended. Such cases are severe and occur quite rarely. Coccigectomy is a rather unusual procedure. During the operation, the coccygeal bone is removed. It is worth remembering that this type of treatment in some cases does not lead to the desired result. Among other things, there is always a risk of complications.
Indications for surgery are:
- inefficiency of other methods;
- lack of positive dynamics when taking painkillers;
- chronic and recurring tailbone pain.
Recovery period
How long does it take to recover? A tailbone bruise usually heals on its own in a few weeks. Fracture is consolidated up to eight weeks. In some patients, pain may persist for a long time. This condition can occur due to inflammation in the surrounding muscles and ligaments or chronic tension in the muscles of the pelvic floor. In this case, the doctor prescribes physiotherapy, as well as a course of injections of steroid drugs and anesthetics. In rare cases, when painful sensations become chronic, and there is no response to conservative treatment, the doctor may recommend an operation to remove the coccygeal bone.
Rehabilitation
Broken tailbone, what to do? Some practical tips described below will help to avoid unpleasant consequences and make the recovery period more comfortable.
- A cold compress will help cope with severe swelling and pain in the coccyx. An ice pack can be used for this. It is necessary to cover it with a towel and apply to the affected area for 15-20 minutes. This procedure should be repeated every hour.
- When the tailbone is broken, a healthy and balanced diet prevents constipation and therefore additional effort during bowel movements. It is recommended to follow a diet high in fruits and vegetables, fiber. It is also necessary to consume a lot of water.
- It is not recommended to sit on soft ottomans, beds, sofas, as this will create unnecessary pressure on a broken tailbone. In order to sit on a chair or armchair, you need to stock up on a special pillow with a hole in the middle.
- When the tailbone is broken, it is recommended that you sleep on a hard mattress. If you sleep on your back, you can put a pillow under your knees. To make it easier to sleep on your side, you can put a special roller or an ordinary pillow between the knees. Such devices will help relieve stress in a broken tailbone and reduce pain.
- Various laxatives can be used to soften the stool and facilitate the bowel movement.
- It is recommended to use loose clothing that will not put pressure on the area around the tailbone. Shoes should be comfortable and always flat.
- With coccyx fractures, you can not sit for more than 20 minutes. It is recommended to constantly change position.
- Some yoga exercises (such as a dog pose) can help relieve pain.
Effects
If your tailbone was broken, the consequences can be pretty disappointing. How can this injury affect future life? You should be prepared for the following:
- Constant pain. A tailbone fracture is the least severe injury to the spine. However, the pain may not go away for a long time. In order to move around, just sit or lie down, it may take a lot of effort.
- Violations of the stool. Fracture of the coccyx can lead to difficulties in the process of defecation, for example, to constipation.
- When the tailbone is broken, you will not be able to work. Regardless of the type of activity that you were involved in, you will have to stay at home for some time. In some cases, it will not be possible to return to work even after rehabilitation due to the severity of the injury or occupation. Also, as the recovery process goes, it is forbidden to lift heavy things, move furniture, or engage in various sports.
- Improperly fused bones after a tailbone injury can make it difficult for a child to pass through the birth canal. Women who previously had coccygeal fractures have an increased risk of injuring them again during vaginal delivery. In this case, caesarean section is advisable.
- In a fracture with a displacement, fragments of bone tissue can damage nearby organs of the small pelvis: intestines, bladder, uterus, vagina.
- It is also possible to damage soft tissue around the tailbone during an injury. This can lead to suppuration, hematoma, the formation of fistulas, coccyx cysts.
Prevention
Earlier in the article, risk factors were considered, the presence of which increases the chances of getting a fracture of the coccygeal bone. To avoid such injuries, you need to take care of your health in advance. Some rules are described below, compliance with which will help to avoid coccyx fracture.
- It is recommended to follow a diet enriched with calcium and vitamin D. A deficiency of these trace elements leads to a decrease in calcium reserves in the bones, which increases the risk of fractures.
Examples
It is difficult to describe this, so you need to make sure that the child has a premise. A photo of a broken tailbone is presented in the article.